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Lessons from Selena: The Killer Kindness

April 10, 2016

Much of the music I hear these days isn't very wise or inspirational; it seems to centre around the same subjects, which are often selfish, immoral or disrespectful. If I'm listening to music, I want to hear a melody(and a beat) that encourages/inspires/excites/soothes me. Cue Frozen's Let It Go...But seriously though. Unless your're certified Disney, bubblegum pop or country western, chances are an initially catchy song can turn a little lyrically ugly very quickly...Okay, so it's no secret that former Disney star Selena Gomez has taken a career step away from her earlier material suiting tween girls - her newest album "Revival" is definitely more...mature. I suppose she's just being like every other 20 something female artist and following this "grown girl" trend? But with that being said, I actually like the messages behind the songs on "Revival"; particularly of one.Kill Em With Kindness isn't my favourite beat-wise, but lyrically, speaks a whole lot of truth and that matters much more. I listened to it on a whim one day after skipping over it numerous times because the title sounded lame (I admit it: I DO judge books (songs) by their covers) I'm glad now I got over my bias and gave it a chance.

Fight Wrong with Right

The song, if you didn't gage by the title, talks about using kindness as a weapon to fight against negative forces (hatred, lies, anger). I love this message because it reminds me that I should embrace a "back-to-front" lifestyle, the kind that was taught by Jesus and I aspire to as a Christian, Fighting wrong with wrong is logical, but it's not right - ultimately, nobody wins apart from that which is wrong or evil. The cycle never ends and nobody is satisfied. It's like when you're in an argument and both you and your opponent are throwing mean and hurtful words at each other just to get the last word in. Afterwards, you're both probably tired, more angry than ever and deeply bitter.But, if the weapon were the polar opposite of wrong/evil, one weapon would have to give way to the other (they're unequal). And we all know that, goodness triumphs eventually. Say if, during your argument, you accept responsibility, apologise and ask for forgiveness/offer forgiveness, your opponent's potentially stunned and can't respond as hatefully as before. The unexpected response of kindness just killed that argument.

"If your enemy is hungry, feed him; if he is thirsty, give him something to drink.In doing this, you will heap burning coals on his head." Romans 12:20This scripture always springs to mind when I listen to Selena's track. Using kindness as a weapon is like heaping "burning coals" on the head of evil or wrongdoing - evil is extinguished by shame and surprise of that which is good.

Mean and evil words or actions are powerful, but the good and uplifting equivelent is even more powerful. You don't have to "fall from grace" to get your point across or to live well by matching evil weapons with evil weapons.

Surprise your oppression with the Killer called Kindness

"...Your lies are bulletsYour mouth's a gunAnd no war in angerWas ever wonPut out the fire before ignitingNext time you're fightingKill 'em with kindness..."